Ignition service coil



H. .J. HARTZELL IGNITIOH Aug. 13, 1940.

COIL

SERVI JZPF 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 19, 1937 INVENTOR f/fkMfl/v L IL/IFRTZEL 1.

ATTORNEY Aug. 13, 1940. H. 1.. HARTZELL IGNITION SERVICE COIL Original Filed July 19, 1937 iNVENTOR HERMHN L. HHRTZELL an-nrny BY v/z ATTORNEYf Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES Zillgttii PATENT OFFECE IGNITION SERVICE COIL Application July 19, 1937, Serial No. 154,343 Renewed January 19, 1940 Claims.

This invention relates to ignition coils, and is concerned with transforming old-line coils to lock-type coils of either the self-contained or ex tension lock-switch type. 5 Ignition coil installation of the present day covers a wide range, and includes several systems of electrical connection. Some of these installations are relatively simple, in so far as the windings of the coil are directly connected with other essential elements of equipment, while other systems are more complicated and incorporate switches with locks of diflferent types, some of which in turn are provided with armor designed to forestall tampering or unauthorized manipulation of the switch and coil parts. The present day demand of high speed driving requires frequent servicing of the parts of the ignition equipment and sometimes replacement of the vital elements of the system in order to keep the equipment in condition for eflicient performance, and one of the elements subject to replacement is the ignition coil. Heretofore, it has been necessary for the service station, or the garageman, to carry a vast stock of coils of different types, if he is to be enabled to service any substantial portion of the ignition systems found to be faulty.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a universal type of ignition coil that can be used for servicing of either non-locking or lock-switch installations.

It is a further object to provide an ignition replacement coil that can be readily converted from a non-locking to a locking type, or vice versa.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for converting a non-locking type coil to a lock type coil.

A further object of this inventionis to provide means for change-over of an ignition coil to accommodate existing ignition circuits, Without disturbing the internal connections of the coil windings.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide means for adapting a universal ignition replacement coil to either one of several'existing ignition circuit installations, so that the replacement coil will operate as efiiciently, and so that the replacement installation will afford the same theft preventative features contemplated, or designedly included, by the original equipment installation.

Further objects and advantages of the'present invention will be apparent from the following description, refereneebeing had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

The foregoing objects have been accomplished by constructing an ignition coil so as to provide an accessible terminal at one end thereof, and the case of which is fitted with replaceable or interchangeable means by which a connection can be made into the circuit of the original installation, and by which the electrical connection can be concealed, and by which a comparatively permanent union can be accomplished between the coil construction and a part of the lock-switch device, where such is desirable. The relatively permanent union between the coil unit and lockswitch unit is effected by means of an adapter cup that comprehends union with the lock-switch part according to the provisions of the original installation, and is secureable to the ignition coil unit by means that are wholly concealed, upon union of the adapter cup with the lock switch part.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, in fragmentary showing, illustrating the instant invention where the union is made between the coil and a lock-switch unit.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view substantially as indicated by the line and ar ows 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View substantially as indicated by the line and arrows e-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 4-4 of Fi 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one type of adapter cup.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the adapter cup and lock-switch unit and arrangedin position ready to be assembled.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View through an ignition coil of the instant invention, assembled for replacement in a non-locking ignition circuit.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating circuit connections when the coil unit is included in a lock-switch ignition circuit.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating air-- cuit connections when the coil is connected in a non-locking ignition circuit. 7

Withreference to the drawings, andfirst as to Fig. '7 depicting the simplest illustration of a coil unit alone, Hi indicates a coil body comprising a bundle of core wires l2 supporting a secondary winding 14 and a primary winding 55, surrounded nection 38 with the terminal 38, supports a priproperly adjusted within a casing 22.

by an insulation l8 and outside core iron 28, A pair of insulators comprising a coil cap 22 and a coil base 25, provide central flanged sockets 28 and Silrespectively, are adapted to receive the ends of the core wires l2 and thereby firmly support the coil body 58 within the casing22. I

The coil cap 24 is rigidly affixed to the end of the, casing 22 by means of. cooperating and inturned flanges, illustrated at 32, and the cap provides a terminal 34 to which is electrically connected a lead 36 joined to the outside secondary and the inside primary winding. A second terminal 38 is provided by the coil cap 2 3; and is electrically connected with a lead at extending through the coil casing and electrically connected with a terminal post 32 provided by the insulator 26. A high tension terminal as is supported by the coil cap 24, and makes connection with the core wires 52 by means of the usual nail 46, while the core wires l2 are electrically connected with the inside winding of the secondary by means of the lead 48, all as is the usual practice.

The insulator 26, or coil base, in addition to the terminal post A2 that has the through conmary terminal post 58 connected with the outside primary winding by a lead 52, as well as a battery terminal post 5 The coil base also provides a pair of spacer studs 55 that comprise tubular headed inserts whose heads are secured within the base at the time of molding.

The casing 22 is of such extent as to extend from the union to the coil cap 2 at 32, throughout the length of the coil body l0, and to project beyond the coil base 26 substantially as indicated in Figs. 1 and 7, the insulator 26 forming an end wall of the coil unit and being secured in recessed relation with respect to the terminating end of the casing, by means of a shallow cup 58. The

bottom wall 8!! of this cup presses against the insulator 26 and is apertured to provide clearance for the, passage of the terminals 42, 5D and 54,

and the spacers 55. The cup 58 is held in place.

against the insulator 25 by means of the inturned flange 62 at the end of the casing 22, which therecup 26, also acts as a heat radiator or conductivev by provides a terminal chamber substantially enclosing the terminals and the spacers. The cup 58 in addition to acting as a spacer to keep the end wall 26 away from the end of the casing, by crowding the coil body In against the coil member when use is made of a resistance element usually contained in the terminal chamber; The heat developed by the resistance unit is transmitted to the cup 58 that conducts it away to the casing 22 and other parts.

Making for adaptability for the coil unitto the several ignition installations, a detachable strap or link 63 is provided, that is designed to connect the auxiliary terminal post 42 with the battery terminal post 5%, substantially as indicated in full lines in Fig. 9, and in dot-dash lines in Fig. 2, where the coil unit is to be installed inlnon-locking systems. When the coil unit is to be installed in lock-switch installations, it is desirable to remove this length or connector 63 in accordance with the showing in Fig. 8.

In several installations of ignition equipment, it is desired to include a resistance element in the circuit of the primary winding, substantially as indicated at 64 in Figs. 8 and 9. Figs. 1 and '7 illustrate the resistance winding 64 as supported by a spool 66, and having terminals 68 and 10 connected with the primary terminal post 50 and batteryterminal post 54 respectively.

Means are provided for closing ofi the terminal compartment, and for isolating the resistance element from rapid changes in temperature, and include a plurality of end plates or covers, one of which is illustrated at 72, where provision is made for receiving attaching screws 14 that thread into the'tubular portions of the spacer studs 56, and thereby hold the end plate 12 in spaced relation with respect to the insulator 25 and adjacent the terminating end of the casing at 50. All of the structure thus far described is illustrated in Fig. '7 which contemplates a coil unit adaptable for nonlocking circuit installations according to Fig. 9. For installations of the lock-switch type, it is desirable to conceal the electrical connections with the windings of the coil, and for this purpose adapter cups are provided, and are securable to the coil'base 26, either against the end plate 72, or if desired to replacethe end plate 12. In the latter instance, the adapter cup provides another of the contemplated end plates or covers. Either or both of the covers act as heat conductive members when adjusted in place, and help to dissipate the heat developed in the resistance unit to other parts of the structure asthe casing 22. When it is desired to make the lock-switch installation, and use both of the covers, or the end plate 12 and the adapter cup, the end plate 72 is provided with a knockout i3 that is so positioned as to furnish an opening through the plate 72 directly over one of the terminals 50 or 54.

Fig. 1 illustrates the union of the coil assembly with one type of lock-switch unit, wherein one form of adapter cup is used and afiixed 'to the coil base adjacent to the end plate 12. In Fig. 5 there is illustrated in detail one of these adapters that comprises a shallow cup I6 whose bottom wall is apertured at T8 for reception of the holddown screws Hi, and provides a passageway 88 for making electrical connection with a terminal post carried by the base 28. The bottom wall of the cup is joined to the side walls thereof by a rabbeted portion 82 designed to seat upon the inturned flange portion 52 of the casing 22, substantially as illustrated in Fig. l. The passageway is so fashioned as to be disposed directly over one of the terminals 50 or 54, when the attaching screws 14 are fixed to secure the cup 1'5 to the coil end wall 25, and for convenience of making electrical connection a terminal extension member 84 is provided, that has a threaded recess adapted to thread upon the selected terminal 50 or 54, and is of sufiicientlength tov project through the apertureBll of the adapter cup.

Making for connection with one type of 1ockswitch unit, namely that illustrated in Fig. 1 in which an armored unit'85 encloses an insulated electric lead 88 and ends, in a plate 98 provided with axially extending tongues 92, then the flange of the cup 16 iscomplementarily provided with spaced depressions 94, that end in short, stiff, deformable tongues 96 for receiving and securing the plate 90 to the open end of the adapter. The united assembly is illustrated in Fig. 1, where the tongues 92 are disposed within the depressions 94, and the edge of the plate SUseats against the edge of the cup 16. 'The ends of the tongues 96 are thence bent over against the outside of the plate 90 as illustrated at 98, which tend to hold the adapter cup 16 and the cooperating part 9'!) of. the lock-switch unit in relatively permanent engagement, and thereby substantially contrio connection between the lead 88 and the selected terminal'post of the coil, and also conceal the attaching means 74 by which the adapter cup is secured to the coil end wall, the screws 74 being wholly within the adapter and threaded through the bottom wall into the spacer studs 56. In the modification illustrated in Fig. 6, the coil unit ending in the case 22, has aflixed thereto in the same or similar manner, an adapter cup Hill of modified construction, it being secured to the coil end wall by the attaching screws M, as hereinbeiore described. .The adapter cup W is fashioned to be engaged in spring locking re lation with a cap m2 of a second form. of lockswitch device, wherein the cap I02 making for entry of the insulated lead 83, also has bayonet pins or look posts 884', and a spring actuated latch member Hi6, adapted to cooperate with bayonet notches ms and [ill provided by the adapter cup I00. When the locking cap M2 is passed over the adapter cup H353 and rotated the lock posts or studs HM move into the notches I68 and H53, where they are securely held by the spring depression of the latch Hi behind the shoulder H2 provided'by the recess H4 in the wall of the cup I 95. Here too, when the union is effected, the electrical connections and the fixing of the adapter cup to the coil end wall are concealed and made relatively inaccessible, and thus prevent tampering or unauthorized manipulation of those connections, all as designedly prescribed by the original equipment installation,

Installation of the coil will.thence be substantially as depicted by Fig. 8 of the drawings, in which the lead 88 of the lock switch unit will have communication to the battery or source of current B through the lead H5. While Fig. 8 shows the other end of the lead 88 connected with the terminal post 54, it may be connected directly with the terminal'post to, thereby cutting out the resistance 64, which in certain installations may be desirable. When the coil is united with the lock type installation it is desirable to remove the link or strap 53 which further forestalls any unauthorized person completing contact through the primary of the lgnition coil, even after disrupting or severing the connection through the lock unit-when a ground connection for the coil is usually effected when the switch is locked open. In those installations that do not utilize a lock-switch unit the link or strap 63 joins the terminal posts 412 and 5 5 and the battery connection is thence made to the terminal 38 at the cap end of the coil. When it is desired to use the coil in a non-locking installation, the unit as illustrated in Fig. 7 is mounted on its supporting bracket, and the terminals 34, 38 and id appropriately connected into the existing circuit, there being no need of other connection. When it is desired to connect the coil into an installation of the lock-switch type, then the end plate 12 is taken off, the connector 63 is removed, and the extension terminal 84 affixed. If the end plate His to be used. the knock-out i3 is removed, and the screws l4 are passed through the appropriate apertures in the selected adapter cup '56 or Hill and threaded into the ends of the spacer studs 56, where they are tightened. After the lead 88 is aifixed to the extended terminal the cooperating lock-switch part 9a or M32, as the case may be is then adjusted and secured to the respective adapter cup, and with the leads attached to the terminal posts 361 and M, the electrical connections are completed.

- While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a coil sub-assembly, a casing with end member for supporting and enclosing the windings, said casing having an extension beyond one of the end members, an end plate supported in spaced relation with the said end member for closing the end of the extended'portion of the casing, means adapted to unite the coil sub-assembly with a lock switch unit, comprising, a removable adapter cup having provisions for receiving and securing a part of the lock unit, and means inaccessible while the cup and lock unit are so secured for detachably securing the adapter cup to the extended portion of the casing.

2. In an ignition apparatus, the combination comprising, a coil sub-assembly including a casing having an end wall, a circuit terminal provided by the end wall, a removable adapter cup fitting the end of the casing and spaced from the end wall, means accessible from. within the cup for detachably securing the cup to the end wall, and a lock-switch unit secured to the open end of the cup for preventing access to the circuit terminal and the cup securing means.

3. A coil sub-assembly providing an end wall having a circuit terminal, removable means supported by the end wall and providing a chamber about the circuit terminal, said removable means adapted to be separably united with a lock-switch part having an electric lead, means for securing the chamber providing means to the lock part in relatively permanent relation, and means including the removable means for concealing the connection of the lead and circuit terminal.

4. In ignition equipment, a coil sub-assembly providing an end wall with a circuit terminal, a lock-switch unit providing an electric lead for connection with the circuit terminal, and means coupling the sub-assembly with the lock-switch unit for concealing the lead terminal connection, said means including a removable adapter cup secured to the end wall, and means including deiormable provisions of the adapter cup for relatively permanent connections between the cup and the lock-switch unit.

5. In ignition equipment, a coil sub-assembly adapted for servicing of both locking and nonlocking circuit installations, comprising in combination, a coil body including primary and secondary windings, an insulator at each end of the coil body, both of said insulators providing terminal posts, some of which are connected with the windings, connector means directly connecting a terminal post of one insulator with a terminal post of the other insulator, a casing secured at one end to one insulator and extending over the coil body beyond the other insulator to provide a terminal chamber, a removable end plate for closing the terminal chamber, and a resistance unit enclosed within the chamber and spanning two of the terminal posts.

6. In ignition equipment, a coil sub-assembly, adapted for servicing of both locking and non locking circuit installations, comprising in combination, a coil body including primary and secondary windings, an insulator at each end of the coil body, both of said insulators providing terminal posts some of which are connected with the windings, means directly connecting a terminal post of one insulator with a terminal post ofthe other insulaton'a casing secured at one end to one insulator and extending 'over the coil body beyond the other insulator to provide a terminal'chamber, a removable end plate for closing the terminal chamber, a removable connector joining the directly connected terminal and an adjacent terminal, and a resistance unit connected to the said adjacent terminal and a terminal connected with one of the windings.

7. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein the adapter cup has a bottom wall received within the end of the casing and closing a chamber surrounding the circuit terminal.

8. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein the adapter cup has portions of its flange edge deformed against the lock-switch part.

' 9. The combination set forth in claim 5, wherein a removable link is adapted to connect the resistance unit with the terminal having a direct connection with the terminal post at the oppositeend of the coil.

- 10. In ignition equipment, a coil sub-assembly adapted for servicing of both locking and nonlocking circuit installations, comprising in com bination, a coil body including primary and secondary windings, an insulator at each end of the coil body, both of said insulators providing terminal posts some of which are connected with the windings, means directly connecting a terminal post of oneinsulator with a terminal post of the other insulator, a casing secured at one end to one insulator and extending over the coil body beyond the other insulator to provide a terminal chamber, a removable end plate for closing the terminal chamber; a removable connector joining the directly connected terminal and an adjacent terminal, and a removable resistance unit connected to the said adjacent terminal and a terminal connected with one of the windings, said removable end plate having a knockout providing passage of a conductor to one of the enclosed terminals.

11. In ignition equipment, an armored lockswitch ignition coil, comprising in combination, a coil sub-assembly having an end wall with a circuit terminal, a casing extending over the said terminal, a removable end cover at the casing end spaced from the end wall, a cup member having its bottom wall secured to the coil end wall against the end cover, said end the circuit terminal, a terminal extension secured to the circuit terminal and projecting into the cup through the said aperture, a lock-switch part cooperating with the open end of the cup to conceal the circuit terminal and the cup attaching means, a means including a deformable portion of the cup rim for securing the cup and lockswitch part in relatively non-separable relation.

12. In an ignition coil, the combination comprising, a coil body including end membersa casing enclosing the coil body and extending beyond one of said end members, a pair of spacer studs extending toward the extended casing end, and an end plate at the end of the casing secured to the spacers, providing a terminal chamber between the end plate and end member, means adapted to unite the coil assembly with a lockswitch assembly including a removable cup, and releasable provision for securing the cup to the spacer studs, said provisions being inaccessible when the lock-switch is secured to the cup.

13. A coil sub-assembly adapted for servicing of both locking and non-locking circuit installations, comprising, a coil body, a coil cap providing terminal posts, a coil base providing a primary terminal, a battery terminal and an auxiliary terminal, said auxiliary terminal having direct connection with one of said terminal posts, a casing secured at one end to the coil cap and extending along the coil body beyond the coil base to provide a chamber about the terminals, removable connector means including a link within the case extension for conecting the auxiliary terminal with the battery terminal, and means including the case extension for joining the coil sub-assembly to a lock unit for locking circuit installations.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13, wherein the joining means comprises a removable adapter cup having a bottom wall closing the casing extension to complete the terminal chamber, a resistance unit within the chamber bridging the primary and battery terminals, and means including said bottom wall acting to conduct away the excess heat developed by the resistance unit.

15. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said link is adapted to be removed for locking circuit installations,

HERMAN L. HARTZELL. 

